Work problems

[jammydodgers12]

Hello

I've come for some advice.

It might be a little outing but I've done nothing wrong.

I work in a secured building which means we all have plastic fobs to beep at the doors upon entering.

I've been using mine as usual today, went downstairs for my 15 minute break this afternoon and when I went to use my fob, I realised the back was missing.

I called a manager to come downstairs and let me through and showed them that half was missing.

Back in the office, I pulled my bag apart thinking it could have been in there but it wasn't.

When people have lost fobs before, they pay £5 for a new one and the allocated fob number is then removed from the system so nobody else can use it if they find it for security reasons.

I was then called in to the meeting room by my new manager who had found the other bit to my fob on the floor downstairs, she then said that these don't just fall apart and something in it had been ripped or the glue or something along those lines, I was in shock at this point because I knew exactly what I was being accused of. She said she was going to open an investigation and a disciplinary would be used if I've purposely destroyed my fob?

At this point, I asked for my other manager to come into the room and I was in shock at the words disciplinary etc being used over something so little, I would never break anything on purpose.

Old manager backed up new manager and I've ended up leaving work in shock and in tears.

I believe there is CCTV where I was so I am hoping that it works and they'll see that I never broke my fob apart on purpose.

If CCTV doesn't work, how am I supposed to prove that I didn't do this?

I'm completely in shock, I walked out in tears after hearing disciplinary and I can't actually believe they've opened an investigation about this.

If anyone has any advice please help?

I'd wait and see what they say. Let them come to you.

Is it worth me joining the union

They won't be able to assist you or offer representation for this issue as it would be classed as pre-existing and they can only usually assist with new issue that occur after you join.

If your manager is a bit of a twat though, and you forsee issues in the future, it is definitely worth joining a union.

You can call ACAS, who can offer free telephone advice for your meeting on 0300 123 1150 and you can take a colleague into the meeting with you.

The police will not be interested in anything so minor. How could you get the police involved in what will be seen as a civil matter/in-house? Acas is who you can contact for advice.

Refuse further meetings unless they allow you to take a friend and give you an agenda 24 hours in advance. Don’t allow them to ambush you in the corridor to discuss this ‘casually’. They are being ridiculously over the top for a £5 fob. Why would you want to destroy it when it’s your key in and out. Crazy people.

Do you think they are building a case to try to get rid of you?

If not in the union, would you be up for signing up to one? Usually £10 per month

After they have done their investigation always have anything they say written up in a email. If they don't then you should... 'Thanks for your time, i would like to clarify that you said XYZ... followed by any actions either party discussed'

Good luck, bullying in the work place is horrible

Tell them to check the CCTV and get back to you it's bullshit.

Also charging £5 for something required to enter your job is also stupid. If you didn't have the cash would you not be able to work?

OP do you feel they are doing this so they can get rid of you?

I have no idea if they're trying to get rid of me.

I go above and beyond on my workload, double what I'm supposed to do.

The only thing wrong I've done is have time off for depression and anxiety (I was hospitalised for this last year),

It never ceases to amaze me how management will throw around wild accusations without getting legal or HR involved. My advice is to simply say in response, that if they are going to accuse you of X they need to investigate it formally. You need it handled correctly and cleanly. In all likeihood it will peter out to nothing because there is nothing, even better if it vindicates you.

Join a union.

They are bellends. All this fuss over a fob.!

How are you doing double what you should? That doesn’t sound right.

@DorothyZbornakIsAQueen post is spot on.

I’m not sure that bringing your colleagues into it is the way to go though.

OP, if you can, I suggest you make a quick note of what was said by who. So you have a record in case you need it in future.

It doesn't sound as though any disciplinary investigation will result in action - it's an illogical accusation, has no evidence and isn't serious enough to merit disciplinary action.

It seems as though your new manager might have over reacted with a view to making a name for herself, and has then backed herself into a corner where she feels she has no option but to pursue this futile investigation.

They called me in for another meeting today.

They asked me into another meeting they wouldn’t let my colleague come in with me to take notes then said that they are sorry that I found the words they used emotive and they are sorry that I felt that they were accusing me of breaking it intentionally etc and they want to draw a line under it.

So after my new manager mentioned that nobody said good morning to her this morning (because the whole team think this is ridiculous and they are angry that their team member has been reduced to tears over something they haven't done) they want to draw a line under it as it's having a negative impact on her, in other words.

I said so all of that accusing me of breaking my fob, potential disciplinaries etc for you to say the next day that we’ll draw a line under it after causing me a sleepless night and anxiety (which they know I suffer with).

Ask them to put their accusations in writing, and then tell them you will be taking advice and requesting the CCTV from the area the fob was found.

How utterly ridiculous of them - what is there to gain by damaging a fob?!

I’m furious on your behalf, that’s disgusting behaviour

and they didn’t say sorry they said sorry YOU found the language emotive, still putting all the blame on you

Join a union this new manager sounds loopy

if your new manager 'found' the other half of the fob, I'd counter accuse this person of tampering with it, if as she has determined these fobs don't just come apart on their own, how does she know this? In light of an extra accusation you may find cctv footage is easier and faster to obtain and if not it is your word against hers with no witnesses.

sorry, just saw your update, I'd still get the cctv footage and ask for an apology.

So they have offered a classic non apology, was the meeting documented or taped. I would ask for an apology and notes of the meeting in writing. The new manager may have been spoken to but you will never be told that.

How ridiculous. Is there a chance they are jumping on this as a reason to get rid of you due to the legitimate time off. smells fishy to say the least. really hope that's not the case. Sorry you have such horrible managers. You havent done anything wrong..

Is it worth me joining the union?

I am rolling my eyes so hard at this. Yes, you should have already been in a union. You should definitely join now but you will be very lucky if they help you on this issue. (afaik, like insurance, you have to be a member for 3 months before benefits kick in)
But they may still advise you.

Like your colleague's idea of involving the police.

Oh god, I don’t know what your office set up is like but I would try and ask to be managed by a different management

Im sorry but this isn’t the end of this, she’ll continue to do weird things like this